How more reliable is a DNA PCR compared to RNA PCR measuring up till the same virus load?Jul 21, 1999

How more reliable is an RNA PCR compared to DNA PCR measuring up till the same load of the virus? In other words is a negative RNA PCR test more or less equal to DNA PCR or the likelihood of DNA PCR test to come out positive is a lot higher compared to RNA PCR a few monthes after the event?

Response from Dr. Holodniy

RNA tests are in general quantitative and measure a certain number of virus copies in the blood. DNA tests, in general that are available outside research labs, are qualitative in nature. They will only give a yes/no answer. So you are measuring apples and oranges.
MH

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